Lamellarin alpha 20-sulfate, an inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase active against HIV-1 virus in cell culture

HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors: A Review of Their Chemical Development

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly decreases plasma viral load, increases CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV-1-infected patients and has reduced progression to AIDS in developed countries. However, adverse side effects, and emergence of drug resistance, mean there is still a demand for new anti-HIV agents. The HIV integrase (IN) is a target that has been the focus of rational drug design over the past decade. In 2007, raltegravir was the first IN inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for antiretroviral combination therapy, while another IN inhibitor, elvitegravir, is currently in Phase III clinical trials. This article reviews the development and resistance profiling of small molecule HIV-1 IN inhibitors.

Regioselective synthesis of 3-acylindolizines and benzo- analogues via 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of N-ylides with maleic anhydride

3-Acylindolizines (5a-5f) and their benzo- analogues 1-acylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines (6a-6f) and 1-acylpyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines (7a-7i) are regioselectively synthesized by a convenient one pot reaction of the corresponding pyridinium (quinolinium, isoquinolinium) ylide with maleic anhydride (MA) in the presence of the mild oxidant tetrakispyridinecobalt(ii) dichromate (TPCD). These reactions proceed via a tandem reaction sequence of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide with MA, anhydride hydrolysis and oxidative bisdecarboxylation of the primary cycloadducts followed by dehydrogenative aromatization of the dihydroindolizines. TPCD serves as both decarboxylation and dehydrogenation reagent in the reactions. These results show that TPCD is a promising new reagent for bisdecarboxylation of aliphatic carboxylates.

Marine compounds and their antiviral activities

Available treatments for many infectious diseases are limited. In particular, diseases caused by viral pathogens have demonstrated the need for new medicines, due to the increasing appearance of resistance to these available treatments. Thousands of novel compounds have been isolated from various marine organisms and tested for pharmacological properties, many of which are commercially available. The screening of natural products derived from marine species for antiviral activity has yielded a considerable number of active crude aqueous and organic solvent extracts. Today, over 40 compounds are commercially available in pharmacological markets, including alternative antiviral medicines or those being tested as potential antiviral drugs. Many more are being tested as potential antiviral drugs at the preclinical and clinical stages. The growing interest in marine-derived antiviral compounds, along with the development of new technology in marine cultures and extraction, will significantly expedite the current exploration of the marine environment for compounds with significant pharmacological applications, which will continue to be a promising strategy and new trend for modern medicine.

Assessing the drug-likeness of lamellarins, a marine-derived natural product class with diverse oncological activities

Natural products currently represent an underutilized source of leads for the pharmaceutical industry, especially when one considers that almost 50% of all drugs were either derived from such sources or are very closely related. Lamellarins are a class of natural products with diverse biological activities and have entered into preclinical development for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tumors. Although these compounds demonstrated good cell penetration, as observed by their low microM activity in whole cell models, they have not been extensively profiled from a physicochemical point of view, and this is the goal of this study. For this study, we have determined the experimental logP values of a set of 25 lamellarins, given it is the single most important parameter in determining multiple ADMET parameters. We also discuss the relationship between this natural product class, natural product derivatives in development and on the market, oral marketed drugs, as well as drug molecules in development, using a range of physicochemical parameters in conjunction with principal components analysis (PCA). The impact of this systematic analysis on our ongoing medicinal chemistry strategy is also discussed.

Remarkable facilitation of hetero-cycloisomerizations with water and other polar protic solvents: metal-free synthesis of indolizines

Hetero-cycloisomerization reactions of propargylic alcohol derivatives leading to indolizines have been demonstrated to proceed in the presence of water alone. This stands as a significant advance over the previous methods using Pt, Cu or Ag salts paired with ligands in organic solvents such as benzene, acetonitrile or methylene chloride.

Endangered medicinal species of the Indian Ocean: radical need for conservation

Life originated in the Oceans, which are also the most fertile source of chemically distinctive natural products that are mainly accumulated in living organisms. Several of these compounds show pharmacological activities, and are helpful for the invention and discovery of bioactive compounds, primarily for several fatal diseases. The Indian Ocean is home to several exotic species of flora and fauna. Several environmental and man-made factors are responsible for deterioration of several precious biodiversity areas of the Ocean. The author, while highlighting the medicinal importance of these organisms, underlines the need for comprehensive conservatory measures on the part of the international community to be taken in order to maintain the rich Oceanic biodiversity.

Synthesis of natural product inspired compound collections

Natural products, their derivatives, and their analogues are among the most important sources for new drug candidates and tools for chemical biology and medicinal chemistry research. Therefore, there is a need for the development of efficient synthesis methods which give access to natural product derived and inspired compound collections. To meet this challenge, the requirements of multistep stereoselective syntheses, and the logic and methodology of natural product total synthesis need to be translated and adapted to the methods and formats for the synthesis of compound collections. Recent developments in the synthesis of natural product inspired compound collections having carbocyclic and heterocyclic scaffolds highlight the fact that this goal can be successfully attained. The progress made has paved the way for the integration of natural product inspired compound collections into medicinal chemistry and chemical biology research.

The application of vinylogous iminium salt derivatives to efficient formal syntheses of the marine akaloids lamellarin G trimethyl ether and ningalin B

Studies directed at the synthesis of lamellarin G trimethyl ether and ningalin B via vinylogous iminium salt derivatives are described. The successful strategy relies on the formation of a 2,4-disubstituted pyrrole or a 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole from a vinylogous iminium salt or vinylogous iminium salt derivative. Subsequent transformations of these highly substituted pyrroles lead to efficient and regiocontrolled formal syntheses of the respective pyrrole containing natural products.

Anticancer alkaloid lamellarins inhibit protein kinases

Lamellarins, a family of hexacyclic pyrrole alkaloids originally isolated from marine invertebrates, display promising anti-tumor activity. They induce apoptotic cell death through multi-target mechanisms, including inhibition of topoisomerase I, interaction with DNA and direct effects on mitochondria. We here report that lamellarins inhibit several protein kinases relevant to cancer such as cyclin-dependent kinases, dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation activated kinase 1A, casein kinase 1, glycogen synthase kinase-3 and PIM-1. A good correlation is observed between the effects of lamellarins on protein kinases and their action on cell death, suggesting that inhibition of specific kinases may contribute to the cytotoxicity of lamellarins. Structure/activity relationship suggests several paths for the optimization of lamellarins as kinase inhibitors.

Multisubstituted N-fused heterocycles via transition metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization protocols

Two complementary protocols for assembly of multisubstituted N-fused heterocycles have been developed. It was demonstrated that 1,3-disubstituted N-fused heterocycles, including indolizines, pyrroloquinoxalines, and pyrrolothiazoles can easily be synthesized via an exceptionally mild and efficient method involving a novel silver-catalyzed cycloizomerization of propargyl-containing heterocycles. Alternatively, 1,2-disubstituted heterocycles can be accessed through the novel cascade transformation involving an alkyne-vinylidene isomerization with concomitant 1,2-shift of hydrogen, silyl, stannyl, or germyl groups. This mild and simple method allows for selective and highly efficient synthesis of indolizines, pyrroloisoquinolines, pyrroloquinoxalines, pyrrolopyrazines, and pyrrolothiazoles.

Synthesis of lamellarin U and lamellarin G trimethyl ether by alkylation of a deprotonated alpha-aminonitrile

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carbonitriles can serve as starting materials for the one-pot synthesis of 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[2,1 a]isoquinolines and 1-benzyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines. The latter compounds were transformed to lamellarin G trimethyl ether and lamellarin U in short reaction sequences. This method allows the introduction of acid-sensitive protecting groups for the phenolic hydroxy functions which would be cleaved under the harsh conditions of the classical Bischler-Napieralski reaction.

Low temperature organocopper-mediated two-component cross coupling/cycloisomerization approach toward N-fused heterocycles

Organocopper reagents smoothly react with heterocyclic propargyl mesylates at low temperature to produce N-fused heterocycles. The copper reagent plays a "double duty" in this novel cascade transformation, which proceeds via an SN2' substitution followed by a subsequent cycloisomerization step.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2006 for marine natural products, with 758 citations (534 for the period January to December 2006) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green algae, brown algae, red algae, sponges, cnidaria, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates and echinoderms. The emphasis is on new compounds (779 for 2006), together with their relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Development of integrase inhibitors for treatment of AIDS: An overview

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme for retroviral replication. It is involved in the integration of HIV DNA into host chromosomal DNA. The unique properties of IN makes it an ideal target for drug design. First, there appears to have no functional equivalent in human cells and the reactions catalyzed by IN are unique. Second, IN is absolutely required for viral replication and mutations in a number of key residues block the viral replication. Third, IN has been validated as a legitimate target and the results from the molecules like S-1,360, JKT-303 which are under phase II/III clinical trials suggest synergistic effect with reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) inhibitors. During the past 10 years a plethora of inhibitors have been identified and some were shown to be selective against IN and block viral replication. The classes under which inhibitors of integrase can be classified are catechol-containing hydroxylated aromatics, diketoacid-containing aromatics, quninolines and others (non-catechol containing). In the present article we review all the recent small molecules reported to inhibit recombinant HIV-1 IN under these heads. It seems likely that the efficient use of HIV IN as target for rational design can give potent anti-HIV agents, which can be used alone or in combination regimens with other classes of anti-HIV drugs.

Base- and ligand-free room-temperature synthesis of N-fused heteroaromatic compounds via the transition metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization protocol

A new practical method for the synthesis of N-fused heterocycles via the transition metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization of heterocyles possessing a propagyl group has been developed. This very mild, base- and ligand-free method allows for the synthesis of diverse fused heterocyclic cores in good to excellent yields.

New anticancer bastadin alkaloids from the sponge Dendrilla cactos

Two new bastadin alkaloids, bastadins-22 (1) and 23 (2), together with six known bastadins, bastadins-6 (3), -12 (4) (formerly basatadin-9), -14 (5), -15 (6), -16 (7), -19 (8), and a common steroid cholesterol were isolated from the sponge Dendrilla cactos. The structures of the isolates were established by the study of extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR and MS data). Anticancer activity of the isolates has been carried out against Sup-T(1) cancer cells (T cell lymphoma).

Polysulfated sialic acid derivatives as anti-human immunodeficiency virus

We report the synthesis of a novel alkyl polysulfated sialic acid derivative denoted as NMSO3. NMSO3 exhibited potent inhibition against both laboratory and clinical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The anti-viral activity of this compound (1 uM) was compared to dextran sulfate (3 uM), and was found to be more potent against HIV-1IIIb than AZT (10 uM). The anti-coagulation time was more than 15-fold shorter than that of dextran sulfate. An in vivo anti-viral study of NMSO3 in NOD-SCID-PBL mice HIV model showed complete protection of the animals from virus challenge at the concentration of 10 mg/kg. This suggests that NMSO3 can be effective in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals.

Selective partial reduction of various heteroaromatic compounds with bridgehead nitrogen via Birch reduction protocol

[reaction: see text] For the first time various heteroaromatic compounds with bridgehead nitrogen, including indolizines, bispyrrolopyrimidines, pyrroloquinolines, pyrroloisoquinolines, and bispyrrolopyrazines, were selectively partially reduced under Birch reduction conditions. It was found that the double bond in the fused heterocycles which possesses the highest LUMO density can be selectively reduced under these conditions. Indolizine 6, containing an ester group at C-6, was reductively alkylated to give dihydroindolizines 8 and 9 possessing a quaternary carbon center in good yield. It was found that ambident substrate 12, under Birch reduction conditions, underwent smooth partial reduction to give 4,5-dihydroquinoline 14 as a sole product with no evidence of reduction of the side chain olefin. It was also shown that electron-rich pyrroloisoquinoline 15, which cannot be reduced via catalytic hydrogenation conditions, was efficiently transformed into its dihydrocounterpart 16 by using the Birch reduction protocol. Finally, it was shown that various fused diazines were smoothly and stereoselectively reduced under Birch reduction conditions to give trans-4,5-disubstituted dihydropyrimidines 30 and 32 in virtually quantitative yields.

Anti-HIV active petrosins from the marine sponge Petrosia similis

A marine sponge Petrosia similis afforded two compounds which belongs to bis-quinolizidine alkaloids namely, petrosin (1) and petrosin-A (2), respectively. Petrosin (1) and petrosin-A (2) showed anti-HIV inhibition with IC(50) values of 41.3 and 52.9 microm respectively. MAGI cell assays indicated that the compounds inhibited early steps of HIV replication. In extracellular HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase inhibition assay petrosin and petrosin-A inhibited HIV-1 RT at 10.6 and 14.8 microm. This is the first report of petroisns with anti-HIV activity.